ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

The soccer rankings app is objective as it gets. All (official games played) are listed and rankings are soley based on w/l + strength of schedule. Yes ECNL plays mostly ECNL and GA plays mostly GA, but there are plenty of other tournament/local results to allow for a comparison. The dev even fixes any incorrect results promptly.

https://usasportstatistics.net/

[Anonymous]

Can we get to 1500 pages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we get to 1500 pages?

If USYS and/or USCS permit a few Aug-Dec bdays to "play down" in 25/26, we'll get to 2000 pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

We all saw what PE did to TSJ. I hope this doesn’t become a trend. If we think soccer is P2P now, one can only imagine if PE gets more involved.

Look up 3 Step Sports. PE backed and a big time player ( for the worse) in youth sports.

Private Equity and Venture Capital should be banned from owning/running youth sports teams in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

Exactly. Until youve seen competition at the highest level you dont understand. Top 30 in the nation matters. Everything outside of it doesn't. Clubs not in the top 30 can play in either GA or girls ECNL and achieve the same results. Now throw in the possibility of getting MLSN if clubs change leagues and it gets very tempting. We'll see how things go but both GA and MLSN are working to make it as easy as possible for clubs with MLS2 and GA2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

How about we see just a single ECNL club in the top 20 make the jump over to GA before anyone gets nervous. Shoot make it top 50?

Most top girls ECNL are just that. Girls centric. I am just not sure MLSN is a big enough draw for the top clubs to leave ECNL for an inferior girls league just to get their mediocre boys teams on the MLSN2 platform.

I mean what is the actual value proposition from GA other than a loose affiliation with MLSN? It is not better competition, coaches are similar in my experience, maybe it is about location and convenience for some or style of play for others. I just dont see it right now. If they do get an affiliation with NWSL and start legitimate academies that would be a game changer in my mind but dont see that happening any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

How about we see just a single ECNL club in the top 20 make the jump over to GA before anyone gets nervous. Shoot make it top 50?

Most top girls ECNL are just that. Girls centric. I am just not sure MLSN is a big enough draw for the top clubs to leave ECNL for an inferior girls league just to get their mediocre boys teams on the MLSN2 platform.

I mean what is the actual value proposition from GA other than a loose affiliation with MLSN? It is not better competition, coaches are similar in my experience, maybe it is about location and convenience for some or style of play for others. I just dont see it right now. If they do get an affiliation with NWSL and start legitimate academies that would be a game changer in my mind but dont see that happening any time soon.

I think your choice of words is incorrect. Also you're obviously looking to troll.

GA does fine, competition is good, and colleges are looking at their players.

From a club perspective all that matters is the number of paying customers on field actions generate. GA has hit the point where clubs can pull the same number of players at the same price as ECNL. Throw all the level of competition discussion out the window all that really matters is headcount.

MLSN has a bigger draw than boys ECNL. Which ultimately means more $$$ because theres more headcount.

I think the MLSN+GA is pretty compelling especially if it allows clubs to gain MLSN by switching from ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

How about we see just a single ECNL club in the top 20 make the jump over to GA before anyone gets nervous. Shoot make it top 50?

Most top girls ECNL are just that. Girls centric. I am just not sure MLSN is a big enough draw for the top clubs to leave ECNL for an inferior girls league just to get their mediocre boys teams on the MLSN2 platform.

I mean what is the actual value proposition from GA other than a loose affiliation with MLSN? It is not better competition, coaches are similar in my experience, maybe it is about location and convenience for some or style of play for others. I just dont see it right now. If they do get an affiliation with NWSL and start legitimate academies that would be a game changer in my mind but dont see that happening any time soon.

I think your choice of words is incorrect. Also you're obviously looking to troll.

GA does fine, competition is good, and colleges are looking at their players.

From a club perspective all that matters is the number of paying customers on field actions generate. GA has hit the point where clubs can pull the same number of players at the same price as ECNL. Throw all the level of competition discussion out the window all that really matters is headcount.

MLSN has a bigger draw than boys ECNL. Which ultimately means more $$$ because theres more headcount.

I think the MLSN+GA is pretty compelling especially if it allows clubs to gain MLSN by switching from ECNL.

So, in your opinion, we will see some high level ECNL programs (top 20) move over to GA/MLSN soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

How about we see just a single ECNL club in the top 20 make the jump over to GA before anyone gets nervous. Shoot make it top 50?

Most top girls ECNL are just that. Girls centric. I am just not sure MLSN is a big enough draw for the top clubs to leave ECNL for an inferior girls league just to get their mediocre boys teams on the MLSN2 platform.

I mean what is the actual value proposition from GA other than a loose affiliation with MLSN? It is not better competition, coaches are similar in my experience, maybe it is about location and convenience for some or style of play for others. I just dont see it right now. If they do get an affiliation with NWSL and start legitimate academies that would be a game changer in my mind but dont see that happening any time soon.

I think your choice of words is incorrect. Also you're obviously looking to troll.

GA does fine, competition is good, and colleges are looking at their players.

From a club perspective all that matters is the number of paying customers on field actions generate. GA has hit the point where clubs can pull the same number of players at the same price as ECNL. Throw all the level of competition discussion out the window all that really matters is headcount.

MLSN has a bigger draw than boys ECNL. Which ultimately means more $$$ because theres more headcount.

I think the MLSN+GA is pretty compelling especially if it allows clubs to gain MLSN by switching from ECNL.

So, in your opinion, we will see some high level ECNL programs (top 20) move over to GA/MLSN soon?

It all depends.

Many of the top 20 girls clubs are a single ECNL team per age group that recruits talent from all the teams around them. In this situation clubs are competing at a high level but they dont have a lot of players which means the club isnt making a lot of money. Assuming the clubs boys are ECNL as well it would make sense from a money perspective to switch to MLSN and GA because it would draw more boys players and the number of girls players would stay they same.

Some top 20 girls clubs have multiple "sub/affiliate clubs" who all work together to funnel talent to a single team that represents all clubs under the larger umbrella. In this case it probably wouldn't make sense to switch from ECNL to GA because the larger group is probably all invested in ECNL as well. The flip side to this coin is if they ever did choose to change to GA it would happen as a group of 4-5 clubs.

Where I expect to see some action next season is MLSN + girls ECNL clubs switching to MLSN + GA.

[Anonymous]

People act like Mlsn is going to take over the boys side hands down. We are at an Mlsn club and not everyone loves this setup and many have fled to ECNL clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People act like Mlsn is going to take over the boys side hands down. We are at an Mlsn club and not everyone loves this setup and many have fled to ECNL clubs.

Players choose to play down a level all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like lots of wishcasting going on for both sides; all or nothing thinking too. If I’m ECNL, I am hoping MLSN stays BY as it differentiates them and gives a landing pad to many of the A team kids up to u12, who have received the RAE benefits (better coaching and competition). MLSN clubs will have to resift through mostly B team kids come u13. Not the end of the world but those clubs could lose many players they have invested a lot in over the years.

Now take the same logic and apply it to the girls side. 😉

The difference is with girls theres no Academy teams (yet).

Which means all GA has to do highlight the top performing clubs (already happening) and bring over top ECNL clubs (already happening)

Top ECNL clubs? Not one so far. Get back to me when Hawks or SLSG or Surf or Blues or Solar move to GA.

The best club from ECNL to move to GA was the Midwest Untied #80 girls club in the country. Of their teams that made ECNL playoffs (not many) I am not sure they won a single game.

Not one GA club is ranked in the top 10 of clubs and only one (City) is ranked in the top 20.

I am not convinced you could put an all star team of GA together and win any age group of ECNL.

I think the more aggressive pro-GA folks said next year would be the year for bigger clubs to switch (maybe contracts are involved, who knows?).

As far as rankings, which ones and when did we get an official system endorsed by all in an ecosystem where the top leagues really don't play each other? Seems like they are done by websites or twitter users with a business interest where their readers are also potential customers instead of objective observers.

Regardless, ECNL for girls historically and currently clearly is the stronger league. Still, the nonstop punching down on GA here is telling and continues to be quite unnecessary.

I end by saying the whole thing and how it all works could change in a blink of an eye. Big time changes are brewing for all of youth sports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/business/youth-sports-private-equity.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk8.pqW_.jvxY2xIKFGaW&smid=url-share

I think the best thing you can say about GA this season is that they did not lose anyone of note despite the constant rumors that City or TopHat or CUP were going to make the jump to ECNL

The contant rumors started by ECNL parents based on nothing.

MLSN + GA on the other hand have made an announcement that they're working together. Over time greedy clubs will make the switch because MLSN is a better draw than boys ECNL and GA is a clone of girls ECNL.

Theres some nervous hats going on.

How about we see just a single ECNL club in the top 20 make the jump over to GA before anyone gets nervous. Shoot make it top 50?

Most top girls ECNL are just that. Girls centric. I am just not sure MLSN is a big enough draw for the top clubs to leave ECNL for an inferior girls league just to get their mediocre boys teams on the MLSN2 platform.

I mean what is the actual value proposition from GA other than a loose affiliation with MLSN? It is not better competition, coaches are similar in my experience, maybe it is about location and convenience for some or style of play for others. I just dont see it right now. If they do get an affiliation with NWSL and start legitimate academies that would be a game changer in my mind but dont see that happening any time soon.

I think your choice of words is incorrect. Also you're obviously looking to troll.

GA does fine, competition is good, and colleges are looking at their players.

From a club perspective all that matters is the number of paying customers on field actions generate. GA has hit the point where clubs can pull the same number of players at the same price as ECNL. Throw all the level of competition discussion out the window all that really matters is headcount.

MLSN has a bigger draw than boys ECNL. Which ultimately means more $$$ because theres more headcount.

I think the MLSN+GA is pretty compelling especially if it allows clubs to gain MLSN by switching from ECNL.

So, in your opinion, we will see some high level ECNL programs (top 20) move over to GA/MLSN soon?

It all depends.

Many of the top 20 girls clubs are a single ECNL team per age group that recruits talent from all the teams around them. In this situation clubs are competing at a high level but they dont have a lot of players which means the club isnt making a lot of money. Assuming the clubs boys are ECNL as well it would make sense from a money perspective to switch to MLSN and GA because it would draw more boys players and the number of girls players would stay they same.

Some top 20 girls clubs have multiple "sub/affiliate clubs" who all work together to funnel talent to a single team that represents all clubs under the larger umbrella. In this case it probably wouldn't make sense to switch from ECNL to GA because the larger group is probably all invested in ECNL as well. The flip side to this coin is if they ever did choose to change to GA it would happen as a group of 4-5 clubs.

Where I expect to see some action next season is MLSN + girls ECNL clubs switching to MLSN + GA.

Alphabet soup. The only constant is change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People act like Mlsn is going to take over the boys side hands down. We are at an Mlsn club and not everyone loves this setup and many have fled to ECNL clubs.

Players choose to play down a level all the time.

Lol not the case our neighbor ECNL top team beats our mlsn1 team. They are a slightly bigger club which may be the main reason. Proves my point though there is more variation than people think. Our human instinct is often all or nothing or one way is right mentality, but youth soccer top levels has a lot of variables in play.